Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-25
THE VENERA KAISER.
A Few Of the incidents An q Long Life
Of Adventure, Aaversity and Proc
pef1tys

From the Philadelphia Press.
Born the I'D day OF March, 17y7, Frederick VIII
Ham Louis Won Hohenzollern was from his cradle
destined to become a soldier, and when old enough
ne diligently applied himself TO learn the military
profession. II was on the LIST OF January, 1907,
when, crushed at Jena, Prussia had almost ceased
10 exist as an Independent nation, that Frederick
William III, who with his family was living In the
poorly-furnished, half-ruined castle OF Koenigs-
burg gave his third SON, Wilhelm then 10 years
OF age the commission OF q subaltern In the Royal
Grenadiers, with the remark: 81 give you this to-
day In order that You may have a new suit OF
Clothes to wear on your next birthday
On the lst OF January, 1914 seven years after
his entry into the service and at the age OF L. he
rode alongside OF Marshal Butcher when the
PruSsian army crossed the Rhine TO invade fair
France. At the battle OF Bar-sur-A ube where he
came under fire for the first time, he was en-
trusted with the reconnaissance OF the battlefield,
and he did this with so much GOODNESS that his
father gave him the Iron Cross. Soon after this
ne was transferred from the Grenadiers to the
GUARDS, and entered with the allies into Paris an
enterprise that he has since twice repeated. The
second time was In 1915, after the Belgian cam
paign, in which he took active part, winning Q
majors commission at Waterloo.
Deeply in love with the Princess Eliza Radzi-
WILL he consented, in 1923 after but brief resist
ance, TO marry Augusta, eldest daughter OF the
has often sacrificed his personal sympathies or re-
pugnanceS to the exigencies OF statecraft. In the
cession he became Northumberland colonel gen.
eral, commander OF the first division OF the
Guards, commander Of the Third Army corps and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Then, on the death OF his
father when his childless brother assembled to the
throne, he was announced as crown prince
In lS57, Just thirty years ago, the fftieth ami.
versary OF his entrance into the army was duly
celebrated; but, long as has been his connection
with the service, he did not become the comman-
mental condition OF Frederick william ~ forced
William to accept the regency, and three years
afterwards he was king OF Prussia. Those three
years were the turning point In the military his
But there soon arose serious conflict between
the new King and the Prussian parliament. Will
helm looked on the army as his personal property
and would not admit that parliament had any
right 10 even debate the appropriations asked for
TO keep 1t up. The difference OF opinion between
the king and his ministers on this subject led
him. in september, 1862, to dismiss them and 10
ntruSt his government TO Count Won Bismarck.
The new president OF the council had also formerly
belonged TO the federal or conservative party;
while at Frankfort he had learned TO dislike Aus.
tria, and While at Paris he had seen through the
aims and ambitions OF Louis Napoleon. He re-
solved to turn those ambitions to the advantage
OF his sovereign and commenced his plans by get
ting the attention OF his own people drawn away
from domestic politics by center1ng them on for
eign affairs. The conflict, however lasted -four
years and was exceedingly violent
The end OF this struggle was the great vic
tories over Denmark, Austria and France The
result OF the war OF lS1071 is too welknown for il
to be necessary to dwell on It now Suffice ft To
say tnaU lOr inc tnlru Time Wilhelm entered Paris
as cOnquerOr; and when he re-entered Berlin al
the head of the army on the 18th Of June, 1871 II
was no longer as king OF Prussia, but as emperor
OF United Germany. He held that kings either
received their authority from God or won IL for
themselves by victory, and 1T was as the con-
querOr OF France that he himself consented to re-
ceive the crown OF United Germany I'm ISL, his
coronation In the Palace OF Versailles being
equivalent to such a ceremony on the battlefield
There is never any change In the appearance OF
the venerable monarch's palace home. His Sleep
ing rooms and Office, at the corner OF the building
that stands In the Inter den Linden, are lit up
every evening at the usual hour, and even when
the sovereign Is absent these windows are bright
with lamps and candles until midnight, Just as
tho"gh he were in the capital
l. The imperial household is a frugal one and few
are the grand dinners given. Both Wilhelm and
his empress love the company OF their kind, but
naturally they have very few intimate friends
She is not fond OF anything but plain German
cooking. but he likes French plates well made and
seasoned.
An SO this wonderful man celebrates his Goth
anniversary as soldier in the society OF his two
great and intimate friends, Bismarck and Von
Motke-this great triumv1rate or monarch diplo-
mat, soldier, whose words are listened to with
GREATNESS anxiety, and upon whose actions the
whole future OF the European continent depends
To-day the German soldiers are the finest in exis.
tence, and when the venerable monarch dies he
can say, as did Frederick the Great: .sThe world
does not rest more securely on the shoulders OF
Atlas than does Prussia on its army"